Teaching Australian Politics: Thirty Years of Civics and Citizenship Education in Australia

Abstract

A citizen’s understanding about their nation’s system of politics and government is crucial for how they engage with and participate in the political system. This chapter discusses the political, institutional, and pedagogical changes to teaching young people about Australian politics over the last thirty years, examining how successive Australian national governments have sought to enhance students’ political knowledge and how the constitutional limitations of the federal system have impacted their approaches. It also explores how political factors have impacted government actions on civics and citizenship education as well as the pedagogical debates which have shaped the curriculum. The chapter concludes by assessing the efficacy of these reforms and what steps can be taken to strengthen teaching and learning approaches in the future.